Method of operating a sheet-glass-supporting means



April 7, 1931. w, wxLDERMUTH METHOD OF OPERATING A SHEET GLASSSUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 29, 1929 vention will become moreapparentduring WILLIAM WILDERMUTH, or" LANCASTER,

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 f .umh-:nf srmuajs'V P ATENT OFFICE onrdnssrenonTo LI'BBEY-ownns-ronn GLASS COMPANY, or Tornano,` OHIO, a coRroRA'r-IONon oHIo l METHOD 'on OPERATING 'n snEnT-GLAssfsUrroaTrNG MEANSApplication led .Tune 29,

The present linvention relates toA an improved method and apparatus forforming sheet or plate glass. j Y v Theinvention hasutility whenincorporated in apparatus for `the production of sheet -or plate glassby a continuous 0r lsubstantially continuous drawing or rollingoperation or in any other apparatuswherein it is desired to supportaglass sheet while in a semi-plastic condition. l

`Animportant object of the invention is in the provision of movablemeans for supporti ing the glass sheet while in a semi-plastic conditionand operable-in such a manner as to facilitate the iiattening of thesheet and minimize the danger of the sheet being marked or marred bysaid supporting means. Another object ofthe invention is to provide amovable table for supporting a moving sheet of glass thereupon-while ina semi'- plastio condition, s'aidtable traveling in t-he same directionas the sheetbut preferably at a relatively Vslower rate of speed.l j

Other objects and advantageslof the" inthe `course of thefollowingdescription -when takenin connection with the accompanyingdrawings. Y j,

In -the drawings forming a part of this application and whereinlikenumerals are employed to designate likey parts throughout the same,`Fig'l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through apparatusprovided by the present invention. f Vj Fig. 21isa topplan viewfof -aportion of one type of glass supporting-table, and Fig. 3 is a similarView showingV a somewhat modified type of table.

Wh'le the invention has been herein disclosed as used in connection withsheet rolling apparatus, it is to be understood that it is notrestricted to such use but, on the other hand,fmay also be incorporatedin sheet drawingapparatus of the type disclosed inl the Colburn Patent1,248,809 or in any-other apparatuswhereinl it is desired to support amoving sheet whilein a semi-plastic condition..

Referring-Ato Fig.- 1 of? the-drawings, the

numeral 5 designates a working receptacle j adapted to contain a ymassofmolten glass 6 which may be supplied thereto'either continuously orsubstantially continuously from any suitable type of furnace, not shown.The'working receptacle 5 is supported 0n stools 7 contained in a chamber8, the temperature of which may be controlled by means of burners or thelike 9 operating through ports 10. w I

5 Positioned transversely of the pot 5 is a pair of rolls 11 andr12respectivelythese rolls being so positioned that `the 4lower peripheryof said rolls may be arrangedwithin the pot in a manner that they justcontact with the surface of the molten glass 6; The

rolls are adapted to be positively driven and mounted with respect toone another to create a sheet forming pass therebetween. 'A heavymeniscus or source of supply 13 furnishes suiiicient glass to the sheetformingV pass between the rolls 11 and 12 to allowv an actualV rollingin contradistinction to a drawing operation s uchfas in the use of theregular Colburn machine disclosed in the patent noted above. As shown,after the sheet 14 has been formed, it is moved vertically from thesheetforming pass land is adapted to be deflected over a third roll 15. Thisroll is positioned in a relatively higher horizontal plane than the roll16 and the series ofrolls 17. The roll 16 is mounted in the samehorizontal plane as the rolls 17 and isof suiicient size so that it canbe usedas a deflecting roll if desired. --That is, the'sheet, instead ofbeingl trained about the roll 15,-can be deflected over the formingroll`11 and passed directly to the-'rolll6. j

Adjacent the series of rolls 17 and adapted to receive the glass sheet14 therefrom isa sheet supporting and 1 iiattening table designated inits entirety by the numeral 18 and consisting preferably of a pluralityof links pivotally associated with one another in endless beltformation.The adjacent links may bel spaced fromo-ne another as illustrated inFig.- 2 to provide an open work construction or the said links mayabutone another as in Fig. 3, to presenta table having asubstantiallysolid` unbroken surface. The endless table 18 is trainedabout sprockets or drums 19 and 2() either one of which or both may bepositively driven, while the upper horizontal run of the table is movedover stationary table rails 21 or the like so that a substantially flatsheet supporting surface will be provided for the sheet during itsflattening period.

The table 18 is preferably arranged in the temperature controlledcompartment 22 and, as shown, heating means 23 are used to co-ntrol thetemperature of the compartment which the table is contained. The flamesfrom the burners 23 are. directed .through openings 24; in the bottom ofcompartment 22 and above either one or both of these openings may beplaced a substantially horizontal perforated slab 25 supported on blocks26. The perforated slab breaks up or diuses the flame issuing from theburner` and permits a more uniform application of heatY to thecompartment 22 and flattening table 1 8. An annealing leer 27 is,arranged adjacent the flattening table and may include a series ofpositively driven rolls 28 `upon which the sheet may be supported andconveyed therethrough. `The annealing of the glass sheet will be readilyunderstood by those versed in the art. y

The above generally sets forth the forma tion of the sheet and themanner in which it is handled until it reaches the annealing leer. Thepresent invention, however, particularly concerns the manner in whichthe flattening table 18 is adapted to be operated so as to give a betterflattening of the sheet and improve the quality thereof. Heretofore, thetable 18 has been driven at substantially the same speed as the travelofthe sheet and, in fact, has been driven at such a speed as to maintainthe sheet under a slight tension without, however, causing any reductionin the thickness thereof. VVhenso operated, the glass sheet would lieupon the table for a considerable length of time sufficient to allow thesheet, because o f its plasticity, to settle upon the table and bemarked or marred by the links thereof. In accordance with the presentinvention, the f lattening table 18 is adapted to be moved in the samedirection as the sheet but at a variable and preferably slower speed.When driving the table at a speed relatively slower than the speed oftravel of the sheet, Vno portion ofthe sheet will lie over any onepointof the table continuously during the time it is trave eling thereon.Since the point of contact between the glass sheet and table isconstantly changing, a better and more efhcient flattening of the sheetwill be achieved. Also, this will eliminate the checkered appearancesometimes taken by the sheet from the table and most of the unevenconditions caused at this point of the sheet forming operation. Shouldthe sheet break, it will still be carried on by the movement of thetable. When the table is driven in the manner above described, the leerrolls 28 will be driven at substantially the same speed as the travel ofthe sheet so as to draw the sheet over said table. TheV difference inthe speed of travel between the flattening table andsheet may of coursevary in different types of forming apparatus. However, for example, itis preferred that the travel of the table be approximately 20% less thanthe travel of the sheet but this is simply by way of illustration sincethe table may travel 30%, 40% or 50% 'slower than the sheet asconditions may seem to warrant.

To protect the rolls 11 and 12 and the sheet formed thereby from heat,gases, etc., is is preferred thatlip tiles be used. At the closed end ofthe pot 5 is provided a relatively fia-t lip tile 29 while a second liptile 30 is suspended above the molten glass in advance of roll 12. Awater cooled shield 31 may also be positioned between the roll 12 andthe adjacent lip tile 30.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribedris to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement o f parts may beresorted to without departing from the 'spirit of the invention or thescope of th e subjoined claims.

1. In the manufacture of sheet orplate glass, that step consisting insupporting la moving sheetof glass while in a semi-plastic conditionupon a moving surface traveling in the same direction but ata differentspeed so that there is slidingengagement between said sheet andsupporting surface.

2.111 the manufacture of sheet or plate glass, that step consisting insupporting a moving sheet of glasswhile in a semi-plastic condition upona moving surface traveling in the samedirection as said sheet but at arelatively slower speed so that the sheet iS dragged overthe supportingsurface in sliding engagement therewith. 3. In the manufacture of sheetorplate glass, those steps consisting in advancing the sheet in agenerally horizontal direction whilein a semi-plastic condition, and insupporting the sheet 4upon a moving surface traveling in the samedirection but at a. different speed, so that there is sliding engagementbetween said sheet and supporting'surface. 4. In the manufacture ofsheet orplate glass, those steps consisting in advancing the sheet in agenerally horizontal direction while in a semi-plastic condition, and insupporting the sheet upon a moving surface traveling in the samedirectionbut at a relatively` slower speed` so that the sheet is draggedover the supporting surface in sliding engagement therewith.

5. In the manufacture of sheet or plate glass, those steps consisting inSupporting a moving sheet of glass while in a semi-plastic conditionupon a movable supporting surface, causing said surface to move in thesame direction as the sheet, and in advancing the sheet at a differentspeed than the supporting surface so that there is sliding engagementbetween the two.

6. In the manufacture of sheet or plate glass, those steps consisting informing the sheet at a predetermined speed, carrying it forwardly in agenerally horizontal direction at the same speed, supportin said sheetwhile still in a semi-plastic con ition upon Y a horizontal supportingtable, and in causing said table to move in the same direction as thesheet but at a different speed so that there is sliding engagementtherebetween.

7 In the manufacture of sheet or plate glass, those steps consisting insupporting a moving sheet of glass while in a semi-plastic conditionupon a movable supporting surface, causing said surface to move in thesame direction as the sheet, and in advancing the sheet at a relativelyfaster speed than the supporting surface so that said sheet is draggedover said surface in sliding engagement therewith.

8. In the manufacture of sheet or plate glass, those steps consisting informing a sheet of glass at a predetermined speed, carrying it forwardlyin a generally horizontal direction at the same speed, supporting thesheet while still in a semi-plastic condition upon a horizontalsupporting table, and in causing said table to move in the samedirection as the sheet but at a relatively slower speed so that thesheet is dragged over said surface in sliding engagement therewith.

Signed at Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, this19th day of J une,

WILLIANI WILDERMUTI-I.

